Men who are suffering from high cholesterol and are looking for an alternative to traditional medications such as Crestor®, Zocor®, or Lipitor® may be in luck. According to a new study from Iowa State University’s Nutrition and Wellness Research Center, consuming minimal amounts of daily flaxseed lignans can moderately decrease cholesterol in men in as few as three months.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, approximately 17 percent of Americans suffer from high cholesterol, which often contributes heart disease and other significant health issues.
In the study, lead author Suzanne Hendrich and her colleagues monitored 90 people who were diagnosed with high cholesterol, but were otherwise healthy. The participants were divided into three groups and were assigned to take daily capsules containing zero, 150 or 300 milligrams of flaxseed lignans for three months.
At the point of follow-up, the research team found that consuming at least 150 milligrams of flaxseed lignans per day can decrease cholesterol levels in men by approximately 10 percent. However, the treatment did not produce any significant results in women.
"There are certainly some people who would prefer to not use a drug, but rather use foods to try to maintain their health," Hendrich said. "So this potentially would be something to consider."